Word Wrestling
- Details
- Category: Perspectives
- Published on Sunday, 11 September 2011 12:00
- Written by Aurelius
- Hits: 102
Word Wresting
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 2 Peter 3:14-16
This passage comes on the heels of Peter seeking to exhort believers to look for a better heaven and a better earth. Those who seek such an existence need to give diligence to be found by God in peace, without spot and blameless. Such a state is contrary to what many has come to understand as an outcome of living like Christ and according to the scriptures. Peter acknowledges that unlearned and unstable men were in existence during his lifespan. The fact that these men were unlearn and unstable did not prevent them from professing to understanding the Word that was delivered by holy men who were inspired by the Holy Ghost. It is amazing that the scriptural record consistently show how God used holy men to make holy statements. These days it is common for men who confess they are not holy to confess also that they have revelations from God. These same men teach a gospel that does not change hearts and minds toward holiness. They do this by twisting the meaning of the scriptures to suit their lifestyles and the lifestyles of those that follow them. Such men behave much like the unlearned and unstable men of Peter’s day who twisted the words of Paul to exhort people away from a spotless, blameless life that is filled with peace. Because unlearned and unstable men do not understand the principles of holiness, which Peter acknowledges is hard to understand, they wrest the scriptures to their destruction. It is so much better to acknowledge a lack of understanding on the principles of holiness than to twist the scriptures to change meanings away from holiness.
Let us consider Peter’s warning and exhortation and learn to believe all the scriptures including those that exhort to blameless and spotless living and are by nature hard to understand.